Dishwasher with dispenser for water conditioning liquid



DeC- 19, 1951 R. M. GETCHELL ETAL 3,013,568

DISHWASHER WITH DISPENSER FOR WATER CONDITIONING LIQUID 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Hoesfwz/. @ref/5.1.1.

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Dec. I9, 1961 R, M. GETcHl-:LL ETAL 3,013,568

DISHWASHER WITH DISPENSER FOR WATER CONDITIONING LIQUID Filed oct. 29, 195e v v s sheets-sheet 2 .FZ/r9. 3, .Hase/Q7 M. gera/51.1.,

Dec. 19, 1961 R. M. GETCHELL ETAL 3,013,558

DISHWASHER WITH DISPENSER FOR WATER CONDITIONING LIQUID Filed Oct. 29, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 .1i/r6: ja 12? 11 Ease-gr M. @Ero/naz.,

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Ivre/woest c/ 7/E/f? rmaves' .lige/.5, .Idea/17726752 SH2/ee@ l nite? 3,013,568 Patented Dec. 19, 1961 3,013,568 DISHWASHER WITH DISPENSER FOR WATER CONDTIONING LQUID Robert M. Getchell, Monrovia, and Walter Peglovv, Whittier, Calif., assignors to Waste King Corporation, Los

Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Oct. Z9, 1956, Ser. No. 618,966 7 Claims. (Cl. 134-58) The present invention relates in general to dishwashers and, more particularly, to a dishwasher having means for automatically introducing a metered quantity of a water conditioning liquid into the interior of the dish chamber of the dishwasher at one or more points in the operating cycle thereof, the means for dispensing such a liquid being activated or energized by a timer for controlling the operating cycle.

The present invention is not limited to introducing any particular water conditioning liquid into the interior of the dish chamber, nor is it limited to introducing such a liquid at any particular time in the operating cycle. For example, the invention contemplates introducing a liquid detergent into the dish chamber at the beginning of each of one or more washing operations forming part of the operating cycle. The invention also contemplates introducing a so-called drying agent in liquid form into the `dish chamber at the beginning of or during any rinsing operation which forms part of the operating cycle and which immediately precedes a drying operation forming part thereof, such a liquid drying agent serving to reduce the surface tension of the rinse water so that relatively little water clings to the dishes, thereby reducing the length of the drying operation. Various other water conditioning liquids, such as liquid soaps, liquid water softeners, and the like, may also be introduced into the interior of the dish chamber at various points in the operating cycle of the dishwasher within the scope of the present invention.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a liquid `dispensing device for the foregoing purposes which includes a liquid dispenser comprising a reservoir having a side wall provided with a filling opening and comprising liquid metering means communicatingwith the reservoir adjacent the bottom thereof, and which includes means mounting the liquid dispenser for movement between an operating position wherein the side wall of the reservoir is generally upright and a filling position wherein the side wall of the reservoir is so oriented that the filling opening faces upwardly. Thus, when the liquid dispenser is moved to its filling position, the lling opening faces upwardly for filling purposes even though the filling opening is not so oriented as to permit filling of the reservoir vwhen the liquid dispenser is in its operating position, which is au important feature of the invention,

More particularly, a primary object of the invention is to provide a dishwasher which includes a housing provided with a dish chamber and provided at the front thereof with a doorway for access to the interior of the dish chamber, which includes a door pivotally connected adjacent its lower edge to the housing for movement between a generally vertical closed position wherein it closes the doorway and a generally horizontal open position, and which includes a liquid dispenser of the foregoing nature carried by the door, the specified side wall of the reservoir of the liquid dispenser facing inwardly toward the interior of the dish chamber when the door is in its closed position, and facing upwardly when the door is in its open position so that the filling opening is oriented generally vertically for easy introduction of a water conditioning liquid into the reservoir.

Another object is to provide a dishwasher wherein the liquid dispenser is mounted in a compartment between spaced inner and outer walls, or rear and front walls, o f the door, the filling opening in the recited side wall of the reservoir being accessible through an opening in the rear wall of the door, and the liquid metering means communicating with the interior of the dish chamber, when the door is in its closed position, by way of a discharge opening or passage, or the like, through the inner wall of the door.

With the foregoing construction, as soon as the door of the dishwasher is pivoted into its open position, the filling opening faces upwardly and is readily accessible for the introduction thereinto of a supply of a suitable water conditioning liquid, the liquid metering means communicating with the interior of the dish chamber when the door is closed to permit the introduction of a metered quantity of such liquid into the dish chamber at any desired point in the operating cycle of the dishwasher. In addition to having the advantage of ready accessibility, the present invention, by utilizing space within the door for the liquid dispenser, also has the advantage of minimizing the over-all size of the dishwasher for a given dish-chamber capacity.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dishwasher wherein a liquid dispenser of the foregoing nature and a timer for controlling the operating cycle of the dishwasher, and for activating or energizing the liquid dispenser at one or more predetermined points in the operating cycle, are both located in a compartment between spaced inner and outer walls of the door, thereby furthering the advantages hereinbefore mentioned. In this connection, reference is hereby made to the copending application of Bertram Given and Walter Peglow, Serial No. 625,398, filed November 30, 1956, and assigned to the same assignee as the present application, for a detailed disclosure of the advantages accruing from locating the timer in a compartment between spaced inner and outer walls of the door, and particularly in a controls compartment adjacent the top of the door.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dishwasher wherein the liquid dispenser Within the door is actuated by a solenoid energizable by the timer within the door at one or more points in the operating cycle.

A further object is to provide a dishwasher wherein the liquid dispenser Within the door is actuated by a lever one end of which is connected to the liquid metering means of the liquid dispenser and the other end of which is connected to a cam or cam means driven by the timer within the door.

IStill another objective of the invention is to provide a liquid metering means including a metering member having therein a metering cavity which Ecommunicates 'with the interior of the liquid reservoir for one position of the metering member and which communicates with the interior of the dish chamber, when the door is closed, in another position of the metering member.

Another object is to provide a liquid metering means which includes a cylinder having an inlet communicating with the interior of the liquid reservoir and an outlet communicating with the interior of the dish chamber when the door is closed, reciprocable in such cylinder being a metering piston having therein an annular metering cavity which communicates with the inlet for one position of the metering piston in its cylinder and which communicates with the outlet for another position of the metering piston therein.

Another object is to provide a liquid metering means which includes a pump having an inlet communicating with the liquid reservoir and an outlet communicating with the interior of the dish chamber when the door of the dishwasher is closed.

Yet another object is to provide a liquid metering pump which includes a reciprocable piston cooperating with inlet and outlet check valves.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the present invention, together with various other objects, advantages, features and results thereof which will be quite apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of this disclosure, may be attained with the exemplary embodiments described in detail hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a dishwasher which embodies the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the dishwasher;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional View taken along the arrowed line 3 3 of FIG. 2 with ya door of the dishwasher in a generally vertical, closed position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but with the door in a generally horizontal, open position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along the arrowed line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the arrowed line 6--6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view duplicating a portion of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along the arrowed line 8-8 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the arrowed line 9 9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view which illustrates another embodiment of the invention and which is taken along the arrowed line lil-16 of FIG. 1l;

FIGS. 11 and l2 are fragmentary sectional views respectively taken along the arrowed lines l-ll and 12-12 of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 13 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along the arrowed line 13-13 of FIG. 10.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the dishwasher of the invention is designated generally by the numeral 26 and includes a housing 22 which provides a dish chamber 24 enclosed by a cabinet 26 in the particular construction illustrated. The housing 22 is provided at the front thereof with a doorway 28 for access to the interior of the dish chamber 24, the doorway being adapted to be closed by a door 30 pivotally connected to the housing 22 adjacent the lower edge of the door by a horizontal pivot means 32. Thus, the door is pivotable between a generally upright or generally vertical closed position, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings and fragmentarily in FIG. 3 thereof, and a generally horizontal open position, shown fragmentarily in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

Within the dish chamber 24 are upper and lower dish racks 34 and 36 to receive dishes to be washed and rinsed, and preferably dried, these racks being accessible through the doorway 28 when the door 30 is in its open position. Below the lower dish rack 36 within the dish chamber 24 is an impeller 38 for spraying water, into which suitable additives have been introduced, upwardly against dishes carried by the two dish racks. In the particular construction illustrated, the impeller 38 is of the reaction type and is supplied with water from the bottom of the dish charnber 24 by `a pump 40 driven by a motor 42, the inlet of the pump 40 communicating with the bottom of the dish chamber. The outlet of the pump 40 is selectively connectible either to the impeller `38, or to a drain 44, under the control of a solenoid 46, as more fully disclosed in the co-pending application of Robert M. Getchell, Horace E. Karig and John A. Fay, Serial No. 631,150, filed December 28, 1956, and assigned to the Same assignee as this application.

The operation of the dishwasher 26 is controlled by a timer 48 which preferably provides a fully automatic operating cycle. As more fully disclosed in said co-pending application of Bertram Given and Walter Peglow, the timer 48 is mounted in a controls compartment 50 within the door 30 adjacent the top thereof. This controls compartment is formed by spaced inner and outer walls, or rear and front walls, 52 and 54 of the door 30, the space between such inner and outer walls `also providing a dispenser compartment 56. In the particular construction illustrated, the dispenser compartment 56 is located below and adjacent the controls compartment 50.

Within the dispenser compartment 56 is a liquid dispenser 60 which is actuated by the timer 43 to dispense a metered quantity of a suitable liquid into the dish chamber 24 at one or more points in the operating cycle of the dishwasher 20. As hereinbefore discussed, the liquid dispenser 69 may be utilized to introduce metered quantities of any desired water conditioning liquids into the dish chamber 24, and may be actuated to do this at any desired points in the operating cycle. For example, the liquid dispense-r 6I) may be utilized to introduce a metered quantity of a liquid detergent in connection with each of one or more washing operations, or it may be utilized to introduce a metered quantity of a drying agent in connection with each of one or more rinsing operations.

A salient feature of the present invention is that the door 3l) pivots the liquid dispenser 6), through an angle of approximately degrees, from an operating position wherein the dispenser is operative to introduce a metered quantity of a water conditioning liquid into the dish chamber 24, to a filling position wherein a supply of water conditioning liquid may be introduced into the dispenser. The operating position of the liquid dispenser 60 corresponds to the closed position of the door 30, while the filling position thereof corresponds to the open position of the door.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the liquid dispenser 60 includes a reservoir 62 disposed within the dispenser compartment 56 and shown as mounted on the inner wall 52 of the door, as by means of screws 64. The reservoir 62 is provided with a side wall 66 having a lling opening 68 therein which is adapted to be closed by a stopper 70. This filling opening is accessible through an opening 72 in the inner wall of the door 30. When the door 30 is in its closed position, the side wall 66 of the reservoir 62 is in an npright position, this upright position `being generally vertical so that the filling opening 68 is oriented generally horizontally. However, when the door is in its open position, the side wall 66 of the reservoir 62 is so oriented that the filling opening 68 faces upwardly, this position of the side wall 66 being generally horizontal. Thus, when 4the door 30 is in its open position, the generally vertical orientation of the filling opening 68 permits filling of the reservoir 62 with a water conditioning liquid upon removal of the stopper 70, which is an important feature of the invention.

The top of the reservoir 62, considering the upright position thereof, is provided with an air vent 74 which admits air into the reservoir 62 as metered quantities of a Water conditioning liquid therein are discharged into the dish chamber 24 when the door 30 is closed. It will be noted that, when the reservoir 62 is in its filling position, the air vent 74 is located at a level slightly above the level of the filling opening 68 so that the reservoir will not overflow through the air vent during filling.

The liquid dispenser 60 includes a liquid metering means 76 which communicates with the reservoir 62 adjacent the bottom thereof, considering the upright position of the reservoir, and which communicates with the interior of the dish chamber 24 when the door 30 is in its closed position. The liquid metering means 76 is controlled by the timer 48 and is electrically connected thereto, as illustrated diagrammatically by the dotted-line electrical connection 78 in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 5 to 9 of the drawings, the liquid metering means 76 includes a metering cylinder 86 which is suitably mounted on the reservoir 62 and which projects thereinto. The cylinder 80 is provided within the reservoir 62 with yan inlet 82, comprising two chordal slots in the cylinder in the particular construction illustrated. Externally of the reservoir 62 the cylinder 80 is provided with an outlet 84 having the form of a chordal slot in the cylinder. A water conditioning liquid discharged from the cylinder 80 through the outlet 84 when the door 30 is in its closed position enters a generally funnel-like chute 86 mounted on .the inner wall 52 of the door below the outlet 84, the lower end of the chute 86 communicating with the interior of the dish chamber 24 when the door is closed through an opening 88 in the inner wall of the door. A downwardly-facing hood 90 mounted on the inner .wall 52 of the door 30, and located within the dish chamber 24 when the door is closed, shields the opening 88 to prevent the entry of water into the chute 86, either as the result of the upward spraying action of the impeller 38, or as the result of water draining down the inner wall of the door.

Reciprocable within the cylinder 80 is a metering piston 92 having intermediate the ends thereof an annular metering cavity 94, the ends of the metering cavity being closed by piston elements 96 equipped with O-rings 98. The piston 92 is movable from a filling position wherein the metering cavity 94 communicates with the interior of the reservoir 62 through the inlet 82, to a discharge position wherein the metering cavity 94 communicates with the interior of the dish chamber 24, when the door 30 is closed, through the outlet 84, the chute 86 and the opening 88. As will be apparent, when the metering piston 92 is in its filling position, the metering cavity 94 is filled with a metered quantity of the water conditioning liquid in the reservoir 62. When the metering piston 92 is subsequently moved to its discharge position, this metered quantity of the water conditioning liquid is introduced into the dish chamber 24.

The metering piston 92 is biased toward its filling position by a compression spring 100 seated against one end of the piston and against a closed end 102 of the metering cylinder 80. Connected to the metering piston 92 is a piston rod 104 which is encircled by the spring 100 and which projects through the closed end 102 of the cylinder 80. Mounted on the closed end 102 of the cylinder 80 is a bracket 106 which carries an electromagnet or solenoid 108, the armature 110 of this solenoid being connected to the piston rod 104. As will be apparent, when the solenoid 108 is energized, the metering piston 92 is moved from its filling position to its discharge position to introduce a metered quantity of the water conditioning liquid in the reservoir 62 into the dish chamber 24. The solenoid 108 is energized by the timer 48 through the electrical connection 78.

Considering the operation of the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9 of the drawings, it will be apparent that the reservoir 62 of the liquid dispenser 60 may readily be filled with the desired water conditioning liquid by moving the door 30 to its open position and removing the stopper 70, the filling opening 68 facing upwardly when the door is open so that the filling operation may be carried out easily, which is an important feature of the invention. Subsequently, when the dishwasher 20 is in operation with the door 30 in its closed position, the timer 48 energizes the solenoid 108 at the proper point or points in the operating cycle of the dishwasher to discharge the desired metered quantity or metered quantities of the water conditioning liquid into the di-sh chamber 24. Preferably,` the capacity of the reservoir 62 is such that the supply of water conditioning liquid therein needs be replenished only after a number of operating cycles. Thus, it is not necessary to introduce the water conditioning liquid into the reservoir 62 for every operating cycle, which is an important feature.

Turning now to FIGS. to 13 of the drawings, illustrated therein is another liquid dispenser embodiment of the invention, thi-s embodiment being designated generally by the numeral 120. In the embodiment of lFIGS. l0 to 13, the liquid dispenser 120 is located directly in the controls compartment 50 between the inner and outer walls 52 and 54 of the door 30, the liquid dispenser being located adjacent the timer 48 and being actuated mechanically by the timer.

The liquid dispenser 120 includes a reservoir 122 mounted on the inner wall 52 of the door 30` by means of a flanged bushing 124 which extends through an opening 126 in the inner wall of the door and which clamps the inner wall of the door adjacent such opening between the reservoir and the fiange of such bushing. The bushing 124 is threaded into a side wall 128 of the reservoir 122 and provides a filling opening 130 adapted to be closed by a stopper 132 threaded into the filling opening. When the door 30 is in its closed position, the side wall 128 is upright so that the filling opening is oriented generally horizontally. However, when the door 30 is in its open position, the side wall 128 of the reservoir 122 is oriented generally horizontally so that the filling opening 130 faces upwardly. Under the latter conditions, a water conditioning liquid may be introduced into the reservoir 120 through the filling `opening 130 readily upon removal of the stopper 132. In this embodiment, the stopper 132 is provided with an extension acting as a dip stick 134 by means of which the liquid level in the reservoir 122 may be determined when the door is in its open position. lf desired, the stopper 70 of the embodiment previously described may be provided with a similar dip-stick extension. The reservoir 122 is provided with an air vent 135 corresponding to and performing the same yfunction as the air vent 74.

Communicating with the reservoir 122 adjacent the bottom thereof is a liquid metering means 136 having the form of a pump. More specifically, the liquid metering means 136 includes a cylinder 138 having therein a piston 140 provided with a piston rod 142 which projects from one end of the cylinder, the piston rod being spring biased toward such end of the cylinder in a manner not specifically shown. The opposite end of the cylinder 138 communicates with the interior of the reservoir 122 through an inlet fitting 144 threaded into the reservoir adjacent the bottom thereof, considering the door 30 in its closed position. This inlet fitting incorporates an inlet check valve 146 which opens toward the cylinder 138 to admit liquid thereinto from the reservoir 122 in response to movement of the piston 140 in the upward direction, as viewed in FIG. l0 of the drawings,

Also communicating with the cylinder 138 adjacent the end thereof with which the inlet fitting 144 co-mmunicates is an outlet passage 148 terminating in an outlet fitting 150 incorporating an outlet check valve 152 which opens in a direction away from the cylinder 138. Thus, movement of the piston 140 in `the downward direction, as viewed in FIG. l0 of the drawings, results in opening of the outlet check valve 152 to discharge liquid from the cylinder 138, the inlet check valve 146 closing under such conditions. The outlet fitting 150 extends through the inner wall 52 of the door 30 and thus communicates with the interior of the dish chamber 24 when the door is closed, this fitting being attached -to the inner wall of the door by a nut 154.

The timer 48 is mounted within the controls compartment 50 adjacent the liquid dispenser 120 by means of a bracket 156 suitably connected to the structure of the door 30. Mounted on this bracket by means of a pivot 158 is a lever 160 having at one end thereof a finger 162 which engages the projecting end of the piston rod 142. The piston 140 is maintained in its lower-most position by a tension spring 164 connected at one end to the lever and at its other end to the bracket 156, this spring tending to rotate the lever 160 in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 10.

The lever 160 is provided adjacent its other end with a finger 166 which engages a cam 163 on a shaft 170 of the timer 48, the cam 168 being rotated by the timer in the clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow 172, and being provided with a gradual rise 174 terminating in a sharp fall 176.

As will be apparent, rotation of the cam 16S in the direction of the arrow 172 results in pivoting of the lever 170 in the clockwise direction as the iinger 166 engages the rise 174 of the cam. This permits the spring, not shown, incorporated within the liquid metering means 136 to move the piston 140 upwardly, as viewed in FIG. l0, to draw a metered quantity of the water conditioning liquid from the reservoir 122 into the cylinder 138 through the inlet check valve 146. Subsequently, when the finger 166 on the lever 160 encounters the fall 176 of the cam 168, the spring 164 pivots the lever in the counterclockwise direction to move the piston 140 downwardly, as viewed in FIG. 10. This results in the discharge of a metered quantity of the water conditioning liquid from the cylinder 138 into the interior of the dish chamber 24, assuming that the door 30 is closed, through the outlet passage 148 and the outlet fitting 150 past the outlet check valve 152. Thus, for each revolution of the cam 168, a metered quantity of the water conditioning liquid is introduced into the dish chamber 24. It the cam 168 rotates through one complete revolution during each operating cycle, one metered quantity of the water conditioning liquid is introduced during such cycle. If the introduction of more than one metered quantity is desired, the cam 168 may be rotated through more than one complete revolution during each operating cycle, or the cam may be provided with more than one rise 174 and fali 176.

The end of the lever 160 adjacent the cam 168 is provided with another iinger 178 which is engageable with an eccentric stop 180 mounted on the bracket 156. By setting this stop in various angular positions, the amount of inward movement of the finger 166 upon disengagement from the rise 174 of the cam 16S may be varied to vary the stroke of the piston 14d, thereby varying the magnitude of the metered quantity of liquid which is dispensed, this being an important feature of the invention.

The over-all operation of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. to 13 is similar to that of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9 so that a detailed description is thought to be unnecessary.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed herein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such -embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

We claim:

1. ln a dishwasher, the combination of: a housing provided with a dish chamber therein and provided at the front thereof with a doorway for access to the interior of said dish chamber; a door pivotally connected adjacent its lower edge to said housing for movement between a generally vertical closed position wherein it closes said doorway and a generally horizontal open position, said door having spaced inner and outer walls providing a cornpartment therebetween; a liquid dispenser in said compartment and including a reservoir having a bottom and having a side wall provided with a filling opening, said liquid dispenser including liquid metering means having an inlet communicating with said reservoir and having an outlet communicating with the interior of said dish chamber through said inner wall of said door when said door is in its closed position for dispensing metered quantities of liquid from said reservoir into the interior of said dish chamber, said side wall of said reservoir being generally vertical and facing inwardly toward the interior of said dish chamber when said door is in its closed position, and said side wall of said reservoir being generally horizontal and facing upwardly when said door is in its open position, said filling opening in said side wall of said reservoir facing upwardly when said door is in said open position and being accessible through said inner wall of said door; a timer for controlling the operating cycle of said dishwasher disposed in said compartment; and means in said compartment and controlled by said timer for actuating said liquid metering means.

2. In a dishwasher, the combination of: a housing provided with a dish chamber therein and provided at the front thereof with a doorway for access to the interior of said dish chamber; a door pivotally connected adjacent its lower edge to said housing for movement between a generally vertical closed position wherein it closes said doorway and a generally horizontal open position, said door having spaced inner and outer walls providing a compartment therebetween; a liquid dispenser in said compartment and including a reservoir having a bottom and having a side wall provided with a tilling opening, said liquid dispenser including liquid metering means having an inlet communicating with said reservoir and having an outlet communicating with the interior of said dish chamber through said inner wall of said door when said door is in its closed position for dispensing metered quantities of liquid from said reservoir into the interior of said dish chamber, said side wall of said reservoir being generally vertical and facing inwardly toward the interior of said dish chamber when said door is in its closed position, and said side wall of said reservoir being generally horizontal and facing upwardly when said door is in its open position, said tilling opening in said side wall of said reservoir facing upwardly when said door is Vin said open position and being accessible through said inner wall of said door; a timer for controlling the operating cycle of said dishwasher disposed in said compartment adjacent the top of said door; and means in said compartment and controlled by said timer for actuating said liquid metering means.

3. In a dishwasher, the combination of: a housing provided with a dish chamber therein and provided at the front thereof with a doorway for access to the interior of said dish chamber; a door pivotally connected adjacent its lower edge to said housing for movement between a generally vertical closed position wherein it closes said doorway and a generally horizontal open position, said door having spaced inner and outer walls providing a compartment therebetween; a liquid dispenser in said compartment and including a reservoir having a bottom and having a side wall provided with a filling opening, said liquid dispenser including liquid metering means communicating with said reservoir and communicating with the interior of said dish chamber through said inner wall of said door when said door is in its closed position for dispensing metered quantities of liquid from said reservoir into the interior of said dish chamber, said side wall of said reservoir being generally vertical and facing inwardly toward the interior of said dish chamber when said door is in its closed position, and said side wall of said reservoir being generally horizontal and facing upwardly when said door is in its open position, said filling opening in said side wall of said reservoir facing upwardly when said door is in said open position and being accessible through said inner wall of said door; a timer for controlling the operating cycle of said dishwasher disposed in said compartment; and means in said compartment and controlled by said timer for actuating said liquid metering means, said actuating means including an electrically energizable element connected to said liquid metering means and energizable by said timer.

4. In a dishwasher, the combination of: a housing provided with a dish chamber therein and provided at the front thereof with a doorway for access to the interior of said dish chamber; a door pivotally connected adjacent its lower edge to said housing for movement between a igenerally vertical closed position wherein it closes said doorway and a generally horizontal open position, said door having spaced inner and outer walls providing a compartment therebetween; a liquid dispenser in said compartment and including a reservoir having a bottom and having a side wall provided with a filling opening, said liquid dispenser including liquid metering means communicating with said reservoir adjacent the bottom thereof and communicating with the interior of said dish chamber through said inner wall of said door when said door is in its closed position for dispensing metered quantities of liquid from said reservoir into the interior of said dish chamber, said side wall of said reservoir being generally vertical and facing inwardly toward the interior of said dish chamber when said door is in its closed position, and said side wall of said reservoir being generally horizontal and facing upwardly when said door is in its open position, said lling opening in said side wall of said reservoir facing upwardly when said door is in said open position and being accessible through said inner wall of said door; a timer for controlling the operating cycle of said dishwasher disposed in said compartment; and means in said compartment and energizable by said timer for actuating said liquid metering means, said actuating means including a lever pivotable relative to said door within said compartment, one end of said lever being connected to said liquid, metering means, said timer including cam means connected to the other end of said lever.

5. A dishwasher as defined in claim 4 whereink said liquid metering means comprises a pump operable by said lever.

6. A dishwasher -according to claim 3 wherein said liquid metering means includes a metering member connected to said electrically energizable element, said metering member having a metering cavity therein and being movable from a position wherein said metering cavity communicates with said reservoir to a position wherein said metering cavity communicates with the interior of said dish chamber.

7. In a dishwasher, the combination of a housing provided with a dish chamber therein and provided at the front thereof with a doorway for access to the interior of said dish chamber; a door pivotally connected adjacent its lower edge to said housing for movement between a generally vertical closed position wherein it closes said doorway and a generally horizontal open position, said door having spaced inner and outer walls providing a compartment therebetween; a liquid dispenser disposed in said compartment and-including a reservoir having abottom and `having a side wall provided with a filling opening, said liquid dispenser including a liquid metering chamber having van inlet communicating with said reservoir and having an outlet communicating with the interior of said dish chamber through said inner wall of saiddoor when said door is in its closed position, said side wall of said reservoir being generally vertical and facing inwardly toward the interior of said dish chamber when said door is in its closed position, and said side wall of said reservoir being generally horizontal and facing upwardly when said door is in its open position, said iilling opening in said side wall of said reservoir facing upwardly when said door is in said open position and being accessible through said inner wall of said door, said liquid dispenser further including discharge means for discharging liquid from said metering chamber through said outlet into the interior of said dish chamber; actuating means in said compartment for actuating said discharge means; and timer means in said compartment for controlling said actuating means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS' 2,423,220 Arpin July l, 1947 2,468,584 Wotring Apr. 26, 1949 2,679,850 Kamp June 1, 1954 2,699,886 James `lan. 18, 1955 2,709,536 Yeager May 31, 1955 2,711,178 Sharp et al. June 21, 1955 2,809,648 Martiniak Oct. 15, 1957 2,812,881 Karig Nov. 12, 1957 2,867,224 Martiniak et al. Jan. 6, 1959 2,872,076 Bloom Feb. 3, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 403,282 Great Britain Dec. 21, 1933 

